Editorial and Ethical Policies

Editorial and Ethical Policies

  1. Peer-Review Policy
  • Double-Blind Review: ARSS employs a double-blind peer review process to ensure impartiality. Both the reviewers and the authors are anonymized.
  • Review Process: Each manuscript is initially evaluated by the editorial team for suitability. Manuscripts that pass this initial screening are sent to at least two independent experts in the field. Reviewers evaluate the manuscript for originality, methodology, significance, and clarity.
  • Review Timeline: Authors can expect to receive initial feedback within 8-12 weeks. The time frame for revisions, if needed, is communicated to the authors.
  • Final Decision: Based on the reviewers' recommendations, the editorial team makes the final decision on acceptance, minor revisions, major revisions, or rejection.

 

  1. Plagiarism Policy
  • Plagiarism Check: All submissions are checked for plagiarism using reputable plagiarism detection software.
  • Acceptable Limits: ARSS adopts the plagiarism policy guidelines advised by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan.
  • Action on Plagiarism: Manuscripts that exceed these limits are rejected outright.
  • Self-Plagiarism: Authors must ensure that their work does not contain significant overlap with their previously published works. Proper citations and acknowledgments are required for any reused content.

 

  1. Copyright Policy
  • Author Rights: Authors retain the copyright of their work but grant ARSS the right to publish and distribute the manuscript.
  • Licensing: Articles are published under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0), allowing others to share and adapt the work for non-commercial purposes, provided proper attribution is given.
  • Permissions: Authors must obtain necessary permissions for the use of third-party material in their manuscripts and provide evidence of such permissions upon submission.

 

  1. Ethical Guidelines
  • Original Research: Authors must ensure that their submissions are original and have not been published elsewhere.
  • Conflict of Interest: Authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest that could influence the manuscript’s review and publication process.
  • Research Integrity: Research involving human subjects must adhere to ethical guidelines, including informed consent and confidentiality.
  • Misconduct: Any form of research misconduct, including data fabrication, falsification, and plagiarism, is strictly prohibited. ARSS will follow COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) guidelines to handle cases of suspected misconduct.

 

  1. Publishing Policy
  • Open Access: ARSS is an open access journal, providing immediate and free access to its content to promote wider dissemination of knowledge.
  • Publication Fees: ARSS charges Rs. 40000.00 as publication fees. The revenue is used to cover the maintenance expenses of the journal.
  • Archiving: ARSS ensures digital preservation of all published articles through its institutional repository and ensures availability in indexing databases.

 

  1. Review Policy
  • Confidentiality: The review process is confidential, and reviewers are required to treat all manuscripts with strict confidentiality.
  • Reviewer Responsibilities: Reviewers should provide constructive feedback and avoid personal criticism. They should also disclose any conflicts of interest and decline to review if necessary.
  • Timeliness: Reviewers are expected to complete their reviews within the specified timeframe to ensure a prompt review process.

 

  1. Data Sharing and Reproducibility
  • Data Availability: Authors are encouraged to make their research data available to readers. Data sets should be provided in a repository or included as supplementary material.
  • Reproducibility: Authors should provide sufficient detail in their methodology to allow others to reproduce their results.

 

  1. Appeals and Complaints
  • Appeals: Authors who believe their manuscript was unfairly rejected can appeal the decision by contacting the editorial office with a detailed justification. Appeals will be reviewed by the editorial board.
  • Complaints: Any complaints regarding the editorial process should be directed to the editor-in-chief, who will investigate and resolve the issue in accordance with ARSS policies.

By adhering to these policies, ARSS ensures the integrity and quality of the research it publishes, fostering a trustworthy and respected academic environment.